INTERNSHIP REPORT – 2024

ORGANIZED BY
DISTRICT LEGAL SERVICES AUTHORITY,
DHARWAD

DURATION :-
16/4/24 TO 29/4/24

SUBMITTED BY
MS. APOORVA A. PATIL
B.A.,LL.B.(Hons.),3rd. Semester
Karnataka State Law University’s Law School,
Hubballi.
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

For the successful completion of the internship and the

guidance provided by Sri. Parushram F.Doddamani,
Member Secretary while interning, I'm grateful to meet
Mr. M.H. Kabadi sir and other members of DLSA.
I’m thankful for the team of DLSA provided during my
internship.
I'm also thankful for my to my family and co-intern for
their supported corporation.
I. INTRODUCTION

To ensure that no citizen is denied the opportunity to secure

justice because of their financial situation or other
impairments, the Legal Services Authorities Act of 1987
established the DLSA. Its mission is to provide free legal aid
and services to the most vulnerable members of society. The
Legal Aid Committee, which was established in 1971, Justice
P.N. Bhagwati founded DLSA. The Indian Constitution's
Article 39A mandates that the State provide free legal
assistance. In addition, the State is required under Articles 14
and 22(1) to guarantee equality before the law and a legal
system that upholds justice by providing equal opportunity to
all.
The Patron-in-Chief is the honorable Dr. Justice D.Y.
Chandrachud, the Chief Justice of India. Every State has
established a State Legal Services Authority. The honorable
chief justice of the relevant high court, who serves as the State
Legal Services Authority's patron in chief, is in charge of the
organization. To carry out legal services programs within each
district, a District Legal Services Authority has been
established.
Under DLSA Dharwad there are four Taluk Legal Services
committees. They are Hubli having 18 courts, Navalgund,
Kundgol & Kalaghatagi having 2 courts each. They conduct
several Programmes under the guidance of NALSA &
Karnataka State Legal Services Authority, Bengaluru in
effective implementation of the NALSA, Schemes and also as
per the calendar of events.
 Honorable Smt. K. G. Shanthi, Prl. District and Sessions
Judge and Chairperson of DLSA, Dharwad, is the
Chairperson.
The member secretary of the District Legal Services Authority
in Dharwad is Sri. Parushram F. Doddamani.

II. About District Court

The Dharwad District Court was founded around 150 years

ago. "Dharwad" refers to a small town
or a location to rest after a long
journey. Dharwad served as a crossing
point for ages between the western
highlands of Malenaadu and the plains
of Bayalu seeme, providing a stopover
for travelers. The word "dwarawata"
comes from the Sanskrit words "dwara"
(which means "door") and "wata" (or
"wada"), which means "town." It used
to have jurisdiction over the districts of
Gadag and Haveri, which included a
total of 17 talukas. Following the
creation of district courts in Gadag on
September 30, 2000, and Haveri on October 12, 2001, the
Dharwad District now has jurisdiction over only five talukas:
Dharwad, Hubli, Kalghatagi, Kundagol, and Navalgund.
 III. Annexure
TIMELINE OF THE INTERNSHIP
DAY 1: 16/4/24
DLSA OFFICE
I arrived at the DLSA office by 10:30 a.m. I formally introduced
myself to Sri. Parushram Doddamani sir, the Member Secretary,
kindly offered us the choice of interning at the Hubli or Dharwad
courts. I chose to intern at the Dharwad courts.

Later I was assigned under Sri. M.H.Kabadi sir for further guidance.
He gave us advice on the defense council structure that the NALSA
implemented as well as how Dharwad Dsla concentrated on providing
criminal legal aid. He outlined to us how to watch a case develop. We
discussed the criteria that determine what constitutes a metropolitan
area. After some research, we discovered that this domain is covered
by section 3 of the CRPC, construction of references. Later, we
discussed the court system's hierarchy. Refer to the picture of my
notes below.
17/4/24: HOLIDAY FOR RAM NAVAMI

DAY 3: 18/4/24
COURT OBSERVATION

I appeared in court at 11:10 at the Prl. District and Sessions

court which is presided over by Judge Sri. K. G. Shanti. District and
Sessions court is the district's highest criminal court. It is also the
district's highest civil court.

Here, I got to know prosecutor Girija Tammanhali ma’am, who

extended an invitation for us to visit her office. There, we looked over
a number of case files, among which was a homicide case.
On March 29, 2024, this incident occurred, and on April 6, 2024, the
accused was taken into custody. When the accused killed the deceased
in front of Karnataka University in Dharwad, he was intoxicated.
There was a money disagreement between the two. At the time of the
crime, no CCTV nor eyewitnesses were present. The deceased's
brother filed a lawsuit against the accused. The case was filed based
solely on circumstantial evidence that the accused was the last person
to be seen with the victim.

DAY 4: 19/4/24
JJB

I attended the JJB on this specific day. The meeting was held after
2:00 pm. I had to hold out for the arrival of the judge. The kids were
led into the room one after the other and assigned a date. Some things
I learnt here are as follows:-
The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act created the
Juvenile Justice Board (JJB), a statutory authority that handles minors
who are in legal trouble. The following is some information about a
JJB:
1. Purpose: Protecting and upholding the rights and interests of
children who are in legal trouble is the main goal of a JJB. It seeks to
offer a juvenile-friendly legal system that prioritizes reintegration and
rehabilitation over punishment.
2. Composition: Two social workers, at least one of whom should be
a woman and a Metropolitan Magistrate or Judicial Magistrate of the
first class usually comprise a JJB. The state government appoints the
social workers.
3. Jurisdiction: Cases involving minors who are suspected of crimes
fall under the jurisdiction of a JJB. Among other things, it decides if a
child has to be placed in a special home for rehabilitation or
discharged under supervision.

4. Procedure: A JJB follows protocols that are designed to be kid-

friendly and considerate of the child's needs and situations. This
entails preventing protracted detention, preserving anonymity, and
guaranteeing the child has support from people present.

5. Rehabilitation Focus: A JJB places more emphasis on a child's

rehabilitation and reintegration into society than it does on
punishment. Depending on the child's needs, it may mandate a variety
of rehabilitation procedures, including counseling, job training, or
educational programs.

6. Confidentiality: To preserve the child's dignity and privacy,

proceedings before a JJB are intended to be private. This involves
limiting the disclosure of the child's identity and case details.

All things considered, a juvenile justice board is essential to

protecting the rights of minors who are in legal trouble and making
sure they get the proper treatment, assistance, and rehabilitation to
enable a successful transition back into society.
DAY 5: 20/4/24
COURT OBSERVATION
This particular day, our schedule included court observation. We
observed the III Additional District and Sessions Court, which is
under the jurisdiction by Sri. N. Subramanya.
An advocate was pleading for an MFA. A Miscellaneous First Appeal
against any interim orders or particular decisions made by lower
courts or tribunals is the first type of appeal. Although not the final
rulings, these rulings have great significance since they have the
power to alter the course of a matter or move it forward, impacting the
rights of the parties involved or those who may be affected.
I later went back to the prosecutor's office in Girija
and looked through the Kalghatagi case no. 519/2019 case file. The
case name was Akkamma v. State of Karnataka and others. This was
brought before the Dharwad court on a countercase after being under
the Kalghatai jurisdiction for a considerable amount of time. A case
and counter case are criminal offenses that stem from a single incident
that occurs at a certain location at a time and that, in the view of a
reasonable person, can be considered to have occurred concurrently or
at the same time simultaneously, regardless of whether the crime is
being prosecuted through a warrant or summons proceeding.
They were covered under sections 354(A), 354(c), 504,
506, 109, and acts 143, 147, 323, R/W 149 IPC.
The process of filing an exemption application and the categories
under which it may be filed were the most important lessons we
learned. under CRPCC Sections 205 and 317.

21/4/2024: SUNDAY
DAY 7: 22/4/2024
COURT OBSERVATION

On the 5th day of my internship, I continued my visit to the District

Court and sat for observation in the Prl. Senior Civil and CJM Court.
The presiding judge for this court was Sri. Sanjay P. Gudagudi.
The court handles both civil and criminal cases. Witnessed two cross
examinations, both related to property claiming suits.
DAY 8: 23/4/2024
DIMHANS
Dharwad Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (DIMHANS)
is a public medical institution in Dharwad, Karnataka, India, which
provides healthcare facilities specializing in Mental Health,
Psychiatry and Neuroscience. Additionally, DIMHANS offers several
Post-Graduate academic programs.
In 1845, DIMHANS was established as a "Lunatic asylum" on
grounds that were connected to a prison. Later in 1885, a few of the
jail's rooms were converted into wards to house patients. The
hospital's name was changed from "Government Mental Hospital" to
"Karnataka Institute of Mental Health" (KIMH) in 1993 in an effort to
lessen stigma. During a legislative assembly session, the institute was
renamed as Dharwad institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences
(DIMHANS) and transformed into an autonomous post-graduation
training institute based on the recommendations of the D. M.
Nanjundappa report on correction of regional disparities in Karnataka
in 2009.
The state administration received multiple requests in 2011 to update
DIMHANS' aging infrastructure.
2020 saw the opening of a Covid-19 testing laboratory at DIMHANS.
DIMHANS has become a significant Covid-19 testing facility in
North Karnataka.

The state government was given an ultimatum by the Karnataka High

Court in November 2021 to upgrade DIMHANS to a higher center for
psychiatry and to install MRI scanners by March 1, 2022. CT Scan
facilities were introduced in a new building called "Bendre Block" in
the same month.
Patients with a range of mental illnesses receive comprehensive care.
There are areas designated for children, women, and men. Physicians
are on call around-the-clock. A total of 375 beds are offered. It also
has a lab, a center for MRIs and CT scans.

Depending on the type, duration, and degree of their mental disease,

the patients are categorized into groups such as general, forensic,
chronic, etc. Here, inmates from the Central Prison are also receiving
treatment. Prisoners receiving treatment at DIMHANS who are
mentally ill are constantly escorted by police.

Healthy food is given to the patients in accordance with their set

schedule. They can also have access to milk and fruits, which are
highly beneficial for their recovery from illness.
A rehabilitation center exists to help patients improve their social,
vocational, and household abilities. The purpose of rehabilitation
services is to assist individuals suffering from long-term, severely
incapacitating mental illnesses in regaining optimal functioning. To
care for and instruct the patients, a social worker and a trainer are on
site at the rehab facility. Patients in the center do tasks including
producing mats, filing, knitting and decorating, phenol, tailoring, and
other tasks. They are paid by the Manasadhara Trust for their services.

DAY 9: 24/4/2024
CDPO URBAN
Smt. Suvarna Surkod, a panel advocate for the DLSA, guided me
here. In the CDPO office, the DLSA chooses an Advocate and a
Protection Officer. Domestic violence cases against women are
handled here. Legal Aid is provided to vulnerable women. The
woman receives counseling and has a letter written to her. The matter
is transferred to family court if the parties refuse to be come to to a
compromise by the advocate. We learned about about interim
maintenance as it relates to CRPC Section 125.
DAY 10: 25/4/2024
CDPO RURAL

The CDPO (Child Development Protection Office) Rural was where I

went. I was given thorough guidance by Advocate Smt. Kasturi
Gadad throughout the proceedings, along with extensive information
about how they are run.

Cases covered by the Domestic Violence Act of 2005 are given

priority. These problems are resolved through conciliation processes;
cases pertaining to villages and the Taluk level are addressed
separately. Teachers and anganwadi personnel are essential in
resolving problems in rural areas. Individuals making less than
$100,000 per year are eligible for free legal aid.
The required paperwork, such as income certifications, needs to be
submitted.

They have jurisdiction over cases involving property, divorce,

partition claims, child development, and welfare. Their involvement
also includes matters involving maintenance and the restoration of
marital rights. Notifications are sent, and complaints are initiated.
Once requirements are met, free legal help is awarded.

DAY 11: 26/4/24

CENTRAL PRISON
I visited the Central Prison in Saidapur on this particular day. I arrived
there around 4:07. Advocate Smt. Savita Javali provided us guidance.
To enter, I had to give up my electronics. I had a security check and
got patted down. I obtained permission from the superintendent
before entering the men's division of Central Prison. Afterwards, a
policeman escorted me to the prison's free legal aid clinic.
Some key observation I made there were:-
Two calls each week, each lasting ten minutes, are allowed for
prisoners to make. A female police officer records and monitors calls.
Court appearances via video call are made possible through eight
video conference rooms. The kitchen produces healthy food and is
kept up nicely. There are facilities such as libraries and FM radio
stations. Funds from a weaving section are sent directly to the
government and then deposited into the accounts of convicts.

In total, there were 538 men and 28 women imprisoned.

The prisoners formed a queue to seek counsel from the advocates.
The majority of the time, it was inmates checking in with their bail
applications. While some had been granted bail, they lacked surety. A
man from Bihar was charged with attempted murder under section
307 of the IPC; his bail plea was denied, and he was compelled to file
an appeal with the high court. The majority of the cases involved
narcotics offenses, attempted murder, and murder.
The women's prison is directly next to it. They were taking care of the
garden. Products are baked at a bakery and sold outside the prisons.
One particular example that reminded me of the Bangalore CEO
Suchana Seth's case was that of a woman who was charged with
killing her own child.
27/4/24: FOURTH SATURDAY
28/4/24: SUNDAY

DAY 14: 29/4/24

LIBRARY

With the Lok Sabha elections fast approaching, I visited the court
complex library on my final day of internship to study a book about
elections. How India Votes: Election Laws, Practices and Procedures
by V. S. Rama Devi and S. K. Mendiratta was the book I studied. I
read the chronicles of elections in ancient ,medieval and
contemporary India. Some more information I analyzed:-
Election laws are a set of rules, regulations, and statutes that govern
the process of elections within a particular jurisdiction. These laws are
designed to ensure fairness, transparency, and integrity in the electoral
process. Here are some common aspects of election laws:
1. Electoral Systems: Election laws often define the electoral system
used in a particular jurisdiction, including the method of voting (e.g.,
first-past-the-post, proportional representation), the structure of
electoral districts, and the allocation of seats.
2. Voter Registration: Election laws typically establish procedures for
voter registration, including eligibility criteria, registration deadlines,
and the process for updating voter rolls. These laws aim to ensure that
only eligible individuals are allowed to vote and that voter lists are
accurate and up-to-date.
3. Candidate Nomination: Election laws govern the process by which
candidates can seek nomination for public office, including the
requirements for candidacy, such as age, residency, and any filing
fees or petition requirements. These laws also outline procedures for
candidate registration and the submission of nomination papers.
4. Campaign Finance: Many election laws regulate campaign finance
to prevent corruption, undue influence, and the unequal distribution of
resources. These laws often impose limits on campaign contributions
and expenditures, require disclosure of campaign finances, and
establish mechanisms for enforcing these regulations.
5. Voting Procedures: Election laws detail the procedures for
conducting elections, including the operation of polling stations, the
casting and counting of votes, and the resolution of disputes or
irregularities. These laws may also address issues such as absentee
voting, early voting, and the use of technology in the electoral
process.
6. Election Administration: Election laws establish the roles and
responsibilities of election officials, such as electoral commissions or
boards, in administering elections. These laws may outline procedures
for the appointment of election officials, the training of poll workers,
and the oversight of the electoral process.
7. Electoral Offenses and Penalties: Election laws typically define
electoral offenses, such as voter fraud, bribery, or intimidation, and
prescribe penalties for violations of these laws. These provisions aim
to deter misconduct and ensure the integrity of the electoral process.

Overall, election laws play a crucial role in shaping the conduct and
outcomes of elections, and they are essential for upholding
democratic principles and ensuring the legitimacy of elected
representatives.

CONCLUSION
In summary, my internship with the District Legal Services Authority
(DLSA) has been a profoundly enriching experience, providing me
with invaluable insights into the legal system and its impact on
society. Throughout my tinternship, I have had the privilege to
explore on a diverse range of cases and projects, each offering unique
challenges and opportunities for growth.
One of the most significant takeaways from my internship with DLSA
is the profound impact of legal aid in ensuring access to justice for
marginalized communities. Witnessing firsthand the dedication and
commitment of DLSA in providing legal assistance to those in need
has reinforced my belief in the transformative power of law and the
importance of upholding justice and equality for all.
I am immensely grateful for the mentorship and guidance provided by
the team at DLSA, who have generously shared their expertise and
wisdom with me throughout my internship. Their mentorship has not
only expanded my knowledge of the legal field but has also inspired
me to pursue a career dedicated to promoting justice and serving the
community.